Control and effect of tidal flat reclamation on river regime of the Yangtze Estuary

Tidal flat reclamation in the Yangtze Estuary area had a long history,the most of beach reclamation in the history stabilized the river regime,but individual reclamation had adverse effects to the general river regime or local regime for more land.This paper reviews the positive and adverse effects of beach reclamation works in the Yangtze estuary area in the history,discusses the development direction of beach reclamation in future,puts forward the principle of tidal land reclamation and utilization.The beach reclamation should be reasonably planned,considered as a whole,and integrated with regulation of river and navigation channels to meet the development goal of the society and economy.